WRC Rally Sweden 2019
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I've also just realised we haven't used up our quota for referring to certain drivers as "Flying Finns", so here's a video of Esapekka Lappi flying over Colin's Crest earlier. We'll be back for more of that later.
David Evans
A present from Pentti
"For me personally, I also wear the yellow glasses when we have the snow," explains Latvala. "This is something I learned from Pentti [Airikkala] when he was teaching me some years ago. We have seen many of the drivers using these now, it helps to make things sharper and takes some of the bright white away.
"So, I gave you some of my secrets. But not all of them…"
"For me personally, I also wear the yellow glasses when we have the snow," explains Latvala. "This is something I learned from Pentti [Airikkala] when he was teaching me some years ago. We have seen many of the drivers using these now, it helps to make things sharper and takes some of the bright white away.
"So, I gave you some of my secrets. But not all of them…"
Esapekka Lappi's funky yellow sunglasses have been getting rave reviews all weekend. But they're not a fashion statement (though after this weekend they might be!). DAVID EVANS had a chat with Jari-Matti Latvala about his secrets to success in Sweden, and those glasses are part of it.
Marcus Gronholm was a welcome addition to the pre-event press conference, with the most interesting question coming from the man who beat him to the 2003 world title… Petter Solberg. Petter asked: “Marcus… you told me you were going to win this rally, how’s that?” Gronholm replied: “Petter, you didn’t listen. I told you I was going to win the grandpa class!” - DAVID EVANS
Speaking of Solberg, he made a cheeky interruption to Thursday's pre-event press conference, as DAVID EVANS explains...
A bit of news from Rally Sweden Historic, firstly. Petter Solberg has won every stage on his way to victory, defeating his nearest rival by 1m02.9s. There was supposed to be two stages tomorrow but both have been cancelled, so it's an early win for Solberg.
Welcome back to Autosport Live for this afternoon's Rally Sweden action!
Autosport
That's a wrap for the Saturday morning loop of Rally Sweden. Tanak is out front on his own, Suninen's lead challenge is over and the podium battle is extremely close. Check our morning report below for a quick summary of everything that's happened.
We'll see you again at 11:50 GMT (12:50 local time) for this afternoon's action.
We'll see you again at 11:50 GMT (12:50 local time) for this afternoon's action.
In WRC2 Pro, Greensmith was a bit off the pace through there. He suspects the rear diff on his Ford Fiesta R5 is broken. He's got more than two minutes between himself, Rovanpera ahead and Pietarinen behind. So third is still safe for now.
Our WRC2 crews are in and there's good news for Johan Kristoffersson fans. He's reclaimed second in class – and 11th overall – by going 1.2s faster through Vargasen than Jari Huttunen.
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And here's how that's affected the overall standings;
Overall classification after SS11 Vargasen
1. Tanak 1h43m32.7s
2. Mikkelsen +33.8s
3. Evans +50.7s
4. Neuville +51.8s
5. Lappi +52.8s
Overall classification after SS11 Vargasen
1. Tanak 1h43m32.7s
2. Mikkelsen +33.8s
3. Evans +50.7s
4. Neuville +51.8s
5. Lappi +52.8s
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So, a quick rundown of the stage order there.
SS11 Vargasen stage results
1. Ogier 8m14.9s
2. Neuville +0.1s
3. Suninen +2.4s
4. Meeke +5.4s
4. Lappi +5.4s
SS11 Vargasen stage results
1. Ogier 8m14.9s
2. Neuville +0.1s
3. Suninen +2.4s
4. Meeke +5.4s
4. Lappi +5.4s
That's put him only 9s off Loeb in seventh. He could still make his way up the leaderboard a bit more before Sunday if he can keep up this pace.
Suninen flew pretty far over Colin's Crest there. He's not got a whole lot to play for now. But he sets the third fastest time to make a point anyway.
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"It's been a good morning. First two one were were maybe going in a good pace, this one a bit steady but still a good rhythm, so no problem," comments Tanak.
He's 7.1s slower than Neuville at stage end. But that's only 0.4s conceded to his nearest rival Mikkelsen, so his lead stays at a healthy 33.8s. Job done for the morning.
Tanak's not really on the pace through here, 5.8s down on Neuville's benchmark at the penultimate split
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"It's good fun. For sure I'd like to go faster, we need to change something as the top speed is not there and I'm using the handbrake into corners."
Not optimal, but a decent morning in all for Mikkelsen.
Not optimal, but a decent morning in all for Mikkelsen.
Mikkelsen's time is so-so but, with Evans struggling, it will make do for now. He's lost far too many results in the last year with issues and offs, so a mistake-free morning is a good boost for his podium hopes.
Evans keeps his place for now. But he's docked 8.8s to Neuville and 3.5s to Lappi through Vargasen.
That's bad news for his podium hopes. He's only 1.1s up on Neuville and 2.1s up on Lappi overall.
That's bad news for his podium hopes. He's only 1.1s up on Neuville and 2.1s up on Lappi overall.
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"I did a perfect stage, really. I enjoyed a lot but the time is completely shit. I enjoyed a lot on the stage, I thought the time will be really good, but it's really bad. That's how it is!" says Lappi.
Well that turned quickly.
Well that turned quickly.
Despite that, Lappi is having a joyful chuckle in the cockpit. I wonder how he'll feel when he hears the news he's behind Neuville?
Lappi is 5.3s slower than Neuville here, so he's down a place. The Belgian moves into fourth and Lappi is demoted down to fifth.
Loeb is in. He's only 0.7s down on Meeke, who is one position ahead overall. He'll probably take that given how the rest of his morning has gone.
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"Obviously conditions are getting slower so we can't compare with Ogier but compared with Kris, we had a very good stage. We are good in the twisty bits but not in the fast parts, so we need to work on that," comments Neuville.
Hyundai has always notoriously struggled in Finland. And Sweden is similarly fast and flowing in places despite being a different surface.
Hyundai has always notoriously struggled in Finland. And Sweden is similarly fast and flowing in places despite being a different surface.
Neuville has sent it here. He's only 0.1s slower than Ogier, which gives him 5.3s over Meeke. He'll have a handy little gap over sixth-placed Meeke heading to service now.
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"In these conditions, the roads give you something back if you attack. It's difficult to get into that commitment mode," comments Meeke.
Meeke arrives 5.4s down on Ogier's benchmark time. But Neuville is up 5.1s at the third split.
Meeke is fast but still neat and tidy over Colin's Crest. Everyone so far has been ebbing right on landing - Meeke keeps it nice and centred, giving him a good line through the next flowing right-left.
Neuville is 1s up on Meeke at the first split. Holding onto fifth is going well for now.
A small dab on the brakes from Tidemand over Colin's Crest but some impressive air nonetheless. He clocks in exactly 10 seconds slower than Ogier at the finish.
Janne Tuohino was a bit steady over the jump by comparison. And he's only 3.0s faster than Bertelli. So the Italian privateer will probably be pretty pleased with his run, all things considered.
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"I didn't remember like this! I brake a bit less than I thought but at the end it was fine. So far, so good."
Bertelli might be a bit more conservative when doing it again this afternoon...
Bertelli might be a bit more conservative when doing it again this afternoon...
Bertelli's having fun by keeping the boot in over Colin's Crest. A scruffy landing but he's in this for the thrill of rallying, not the stage times!
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Latvala analyses his performance this morning at stage end.
"It's been really nice. Conditions this morning are very good, I had a great start in Rammen but then I made a small mistake in Hagfors. I thought Vargasen was coming good but we lost a bit of time to Seb, I'm not sure where."
"It's been really nice. Conditions this morning are very good, I had a great start in Rammen but then I made a small mistake in Hagfors. I thought Vargasen was coming good but we lost a bit of time to Seb, I'm not sure where."
An 8m22.0s for Latvala. 7.1s slower than Ogier. It's not like he has anything to fight for but it's still probably a little further off the pace than he'd like.
Latvala takes it a bit easier over Colin's Crest than Ogier. But not Gronholm-level casual.
Ogier arrives 16.4s up on Gronholm. And he's 5.6s up on Latvala on the splits. Stage win number two incoming?
Big jump from Ogier over Colin's Crest!
By: Matt Beer
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